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The Moviefone Blog is the place for movie lists, trailers, trivia, interviews and features on movies out in theaters and coming soon.https://www.moviefone.com/media/feedlogo.gifMoviefone News RSS Feed - Moviefone.comhttps://www.moviefone.com
en-usCopyright 2016 Blogsmith, LLC. The contents of this headlines and excerpts feed are available for limited commercial distribution. You may repost this feed to your site provided you link back to the original story, do not edit the material, and do not remove this copyright notice.Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/30/best-holiday-movies-star-wars-cant-wait-podcast-ep-6/
This week on "CAN'T WAIT!", Tim Hayne, Tony Maccio, Rachel Horner, and Phil Pirrello chat a bit about Netflix's new offline-viewing capability (pay us, Netflix!) and nerd out over the "Alien: Covenant" post and release date change. Tony makes the mistake of mentioning "Rogue One: A Star Wars Story," which sends Phil and Rachel into a hot take-fueled tailspin. As a result, Tim feels left out and uncomfortable, while Tony sits alone in his regret.

After an awkward segue, the conversation turns to holiday movies. Yay! We discuss our all-time favorite holiday flicks -- some traditional and some not-so-traditional -- with a few controversial picks in the mix. In the end, Tim reveals his Hallmark movie-loving inner 80-year-old, Rachel re-commits to "Grinch"-mas, Phil makes a startling Peanuts-related confession, and Tony just wants everyone to have a "White Christmas."

At the end of the podcast, Tim, Phil, Rachel, and Tony play Secret Santa, with each picking a name out of a hat. The Secret Santas then will gift (more like assign) a holiday movie to the giftee, who will watch it in preparation for the next episode. Be sure to tune in next time, when those picks -- and more hot takes -- will be revealed.

Have thoughts/feelings/feedback about the podcast? Hit us up on Facebook and Twitter.

]]>Movies
, Podcasts2016-11-30T17:28:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/30/best-holiday-movies-star-wars-cant-wait-podcast-ep-6/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/28/12-insane-cyber-monday-deals-for-movie-and-tv-fans/
Still stuffed from Thanksgiving? Well, burn off a few of those calories by clicking on the insanely good Cyber Monday deals we've rounded up for you or the movie/TV fan in your life.

This is a UK import that is region free and will work in most Blu-ray players. This normally costs over $150 and this is easily the lowest price as one season can cost anywhere from $20 for older seasons to $40 for the newer ones. Buy it now.

The original Fire TV stick is ranked as one of the best media players and this newest generation is faster and now includes Alexa's voice control. You can easily search for shows on command. You can even use the Alexa digital assistant to set an alarm, order you a pizza or an uber, in addition top helping you watch Netflix, HBO GO, Hulu, and, of course, Amazon Video. Buy it now.

This is a Cyber Monday special, and if you have Prime this is the device to get to inexpensively watch all your favorite shows. Unlike Netflix, Prime will allow you to download shows so you can watch it offline when you can't access the internet. For $34, this is a no-brainer. Buy it now.

This is 20% off the initial price and the first significant discount we've seen in honor of Cyber Monday. Buy it now.

]]>Movies
, TV News2016-11-28T13:30:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/28/12-insane-cyber-monday-deals-for-movie-and-tv-fans/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/25/best-black-friday-deals/
Black Friday has begun and here are some of the best deals on TVs, computers, and electronics that the team at TechBargains has found. Please note that supplies are limited so act fast and buy now.

This is the Black Friday TV deal to beat. Dell matches the lowest Black Friday price and added a huge $150 gift card. You are effectively paying only $450 for a 2016 Samsung with the most important current features: 4K and HDR. Don't go for cheap this Black Friday -- get a fantastic deal on this Samsung.

Use Code 599INSPIRON. This is one of the most popular and best selling deals we see from Dell. At $600, there is no better value to be found. The Inspiron desktop uses one of Intel's most powerful processors, a full 16GB of RAM to push multi-tasking to the limited, and a generous 2TB hard drive for storage. This is a desktop has been redesigned to take up 45% less space without any compromise to performance. We suggest you take advantage of this fast as this always sells out like hotcakes.

This is one of the best Xbox One S bundles so far. You get two of the most popular games of the fall, plus a bonus controller which you may need later on. When you count all the extras added in this bundle, you are paying under $200 for the newest Xbox One S.

This Fire Tablet was an incredible deal at $50 but, with an extra 35% off, it becomes a "can't miss" deal. We aren't sure how Amazon is making money off this tablet because, at $33, it's cheaper than a digital photo frame, a flip phone, or even a digital watch. This is one item you can feel good about impulse buying.

This is the best pricing of the year on New Kindles. They make fantastic gifts and stocking stuffers. For a gift, we recommend the Kindle or the Paperwhite. For avid and frequent readers, we definitely think the Voyager is worth the extra cost for the design enhancements and build quality.

The Amazon Echo is a piece of future tech. On its surface, it is a great streaming music player. Underneath, it has Amazon's highly rated Alexa digital assistant. You can ask Alexa for the weather, order an Uber, or even ask Alexa how many tablespoons are in a cup. Welcome to the 21st century.

The Echo Dot has all the functionalities of an Echo at a fraction of the price. You can affordably stream music to multiple rooms and if you have a pair of great speakers you can connect it to the Dot (something the Echo cannot do). Most importantly, this allows you to access Alexa affordably from any part of your home.

Keep an eye on your house without the hassle or cost of a security system. Nests made it easy to set-up and monitor your home without a hitch, as other brands have been notoriously difficult to do the same. Keep an eye on a baby, a rambunctious dog, or check in on your home when you travel.

You can't beat a vacuum that vacuums for you. Schedule it to vacuum up to seven times a week, and watch it work on homes with both carpet and hard floors. This is one of the lowest prices we've seen all year.

This is one gadget that will save you a ton of money over the course of the year. The Nest knows when you are home and it will learn your patterns and adjust your HVAC system accordingly. If your utility bill goes over $100 a month? Nest can save you money. Better yet -- check with your local utility company as they may offer an additional rebate.

The LG OLED TV has one of the best rated picture qualities you can currently buy, and only the Samsung OLED TV (which costs a few thousand) is rated as highly. It has inky blacks, vibrant colors, and the newest HDR and 4K resolution.

This is currently the best and only Microsoft Office deal we've seen running. Office almost never goes on sale and Dell currently has the best deal with not only $20 off but a bonus $25 Dell gift card included.

These are Bose's version of high end PC speakers and at 50% off -- they are the lowest price we've seen. They have the power and sound quality you would expect from professional sound monitors but have the sleek design cues that will fit well in any decor. This is the only time we've seen these discounted.

At $90, you can inexpensively set-up a multi-display computer without spending much at all. Usually a 24" monitor would cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $120, and you are easily saving 25% off which adds up very quickly if you are buying three to six of these for your set-up.

Here's the absolute lowest price on the top selling TimBuk2 laptop backpack. This has a clever design for ergonomics, storage and look.

]]>2016-11-25T06:00:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/25/best-black-friday-deals/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/16/oscar-talk-kenneth-lonergan-interview-cant-wait-podcast-ep-5/
So many Oscar contenders, so little time.

In this week's nearly Rachel Horner-free episode of CAN'T WAIT!, the Moviefone crew (Tim Hayne, Phil Pirrello, and Tony Maccio) do their best to filter through the onslaught of current Oscar frontrunners and come up with some best guesses as to who and what will be nominated. (Spoiler alert: All categories belong to the 1995 comedy classic "Heavyweights." Not really, but you'll get the reference if you listen to the podcast.)

Director Kenneth Lonergan joins the podcast in the midst of our Oscars analysis, chatting with Phil about topics ranging from his Oscar-buzz-worthy "Manchester by the Sea" to his love of "Star Trek" and how it plays into the Casey Affleck-starring drama. Phil may or may not have called him Kenny. Also, apologies for the audio quality this time around -- we're still working out a few kinks with the on-location sessions.

After mentioning a few more Academy Award-worthy movies that we haven't seen but would like to at some point in our lives, we venture into recommendation territory. Noticeably absent Rachel Horner blesses us with her recommendation(s) from the road, while Tony and Phil offer up their picks from the comfort of the studio. Tim, on the other hand, contributes nothing.

Get your sci-fi lovin' mitts on Amazon's exclusive "Star Trek Beyond" collector's Blu-ray set, which includes a model U.S.S Franklin collectible as well as all versions of the movie available: 4K, 3D, standard full HD, and the digital version. Buy it here.

One of the lowest prices we've seen for such an iconic piece of anime. Fans will enjoy the new 1080p version of the Japanese classic. Be sure to catch the original before Hollywood gives it the live-action treatment next year. Buy it here.

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, Blu-ray DVDs2016-11-07T14:23:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/07/the-best-blu-ray-deals-on-amazon-right-now/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/01/doctor-strange-review-deadpool-2-dilemmas-cant-wait-podcast-ep-4/
This week on "CAN'T WAIT!", Tim Hayne, Rachel Horner, Phil Pirrello, and Tony Maccio offer up their takes on the new trailer for sci-fi thriller "Life" (domestic and international, because we're fancy) and set sail on a discussion regarding the merits of saying goodbye to "Deadpool 2" director Tim Miller and hello to names like "Daredevil" producer Drew Goddard and "John Wick" co-director David Leitch. Ryan Reynolds is so powerful, you guys.

Then the magic happens ... we're talking about Marvel's "Doctor Strange," offering up some spoiler-free thoughts on what a wizard looks like in the MCU. Hint: He ain't Harry Potter. Double hint: A cape as a sidekick totally works. Triple hint: Tilda Swinton = 🙌. (PS: M.C. Escher was doing it before "Inception," so back off haters.)

And that's not all! Keep listening as our recommendations segment turns into "Documentary Corner," hosted by Tony and Rachel. Those crazy kids love to learn.

Have thoughts/feelings/feedback about the podcast? Hit us up on Facebook and Twitter.

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, TV News
, Podcasts2016-11-01T20:14:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/11/01/doctor-strange-review-deadpool-2-dilemmas-cant-wait-podcast-ep-4/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/10/19/baby-groot-childhood-ruining-horror-movies-cant-wait-podcast/
This week on "CAN'T WAIT!", Tim Hayne, Rachel Horner, Phil Pirrello, and Tony Maccio explore the nerd-splosion-inducing teaser trailer for Marvel's "Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2" and decide that you need all 87 glorious seconds of it in your life right now. Also, two words: BABY GROOT. The new poster comes up too, but that's pretty anticlimactic at this point. (Tim apologizes to the esteemed director of "Thor: Ragnarok," Taika Waititi.

And what would an October podcast be without horror movies? 'Tis the season (Halloween!), so we're talking about our favorite horror movie gems, the scary flicks that haven't quite reached horror movie classic status but are worth checking out because -- fingers crossed! -- they'll get there some day. We'll also be talking about horror movies throughout the month of October, so be sure to subscribe to the podcast (links below) so you don't miss out. #FOMO

In the premiere episode, Tim Hayne (Executive Editor), Phil Pirrello (Senior Editor), Rachel Horner (Social Media Editor), and Tony Maccio (Producer) try their very best to stay on topic and tackle some current events, including a "Murder on the Orient Express" remake casting announcement, the latest "Inception-y" TV spot for "Doctor Strange," and the new, chock-a-block fulla beasts trailer for "Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them." For our main course, we dig into the fall movies we can't wait to see, and -- SPOILER ALERT -- we don't agree on everything. After some random bouts of tomfoolery -- and an impassioned proclamation of love for Disney's "Pete's Dragon" -- we finish things off with some recommendations for what to watch at home in the worlds of TV and movies. Bless you for listening.

More episodes are coming soon. We'll start off with new shows every two weeks, and then move to a weekly schedule. To subscribe to the podcast, click on the links below.

Note: We had some technical difficulties our first time out, so forgive the intermittent audio issues.

Have thoughts/feelings/feedback about the podcast? Hit us up on Facebook and Twitter.

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, TV News
, Podcasts2016-10-04T14:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/10/04/must-see-fall-movies-dragon-love-never-dies-cant-wait-podcast-ep-1/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/09/29/october-horror-movies-outside-street-food-cinema-2016/
Your love of horror movies and the great outdoors are colliding in Los Angeles this October.

Street Food Cinema and Moviefone are turning up the scares this October, with horror movies playing at outdoor screenings across the greater Los Angeles area.

Oh, the horror! "Scream", marking its 20th anniversary, hits the big outdoor screen on October 1st, while "Jurassic Park," a terrifying movie about dinosaurs that you've probably never heard of, plays the following weekend, on October 8th. (You can catch it October 1st, if you're in the San Diego area.) Oh, and be sure to soak in the creepy, cooky "The Addams Family" when it arrives October 1st, well ahead of Halloween.

For the full schedule, and to buy tickets or reserve your spot, head on over to StreetFoodCinema.com.

]]>Movies2016-09-29T10:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/09/29/october-horror-movies-outside-street-food-cinema-2016/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/08/25/which-stranger-things-character-are-you-quiz/
Netflix's "Stranger Things" is nothing short of a nostalgia-fueled phenomenon.

Not only has the show captured the hearts and minds of its '80s-loving viewers, it's turned its young cast into breakout stars. But the real standouts on "Stranger Things" are the show's characters: Barb, Eleven, Mike, Dr. Brenner, Nancy, Steve, and so many more.

Which "Stranger Things" character are you? Take the quiz below to find out.

Sure, you can rely on Shonda Rhimes's blessed hospital drama to deliver the feels on a weekly basis, but nothing turns on the waterworks like one of show's signature deaths. While some are sadder than others, one thing's for sure: You never see them coming.

How well do you remember "Grey's Anatomy's" most shocking, unexpected, or just plain sad deaths? Match all of these "Grey's" characters to how they died and find out.

]]>TV News
, Trivia2016-08-08T17:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/08/08/greys-anatomy-characters-die-quiz/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/07/29/which-harry-potter-character-are-you-quiz/
As "Harry Potter" fans, we've all imagined what it would be like to attend Hogwarts, battle Voldemort, or venture down Diagon Alley. But have you ever imagined yourself as one of the characters in J.K. Rowling's beloved books? Take the quiz below to determine which witch (or wizard) you're most like in the Harry Potter universe.

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, Trivia2016-07-29T15:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/07/29/which-harry-potter-character-are-you-quiz/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/07/21/awesome-90s-movies-head-outdoors-at-street-food-cinema-2016/
Your love of '90s movies and the outdoors are colliding in Los Angeles this summer.

Street Food Cinema and Moviefone are turning up the heat this summer (and beyond), with '90s movies playing at outdoor screenings across the greater Los Angeles area. Comedy, drama, horror -- we're packing it all in.

July 23rd is perfect for comedy fans: we've got makeover comedy "She's All That" and the Jane Austen-inspired "Clueless" (as if!) playing at different locations (good luck trying to make that decision). Then, on August 6th, the Post It-fueled antics of "Romy and Michele's High School Reunion" invade West Hollywood. The creepy, cooky "The Addams Family" finally arrives October 1st, well ahead of Halloween.

In the mood for something a bit more dramatic? Weepy? Epic? Oscar-winning? Well, "Titanic" will fuel all of your '90s emo needs on August 6th. Another Oscar-winner, Quentin Tarantino classic "Pulp Fiction," plays September 24th.

Oh, the horror! "Scream", marking its 20th anniversary, hits the big outdoor screen on October 1st, while "Jurassic Park," a terrifying movie about dinosaurs that you've probably never heard of, plays the following weekend, on October 8th. "Edward Scissorhands," more creepy/spooky than scary, snips its way to the screen October 22nd.

For the full schedule, and to buy tickets or reserve your spot, head on over to StreetFoodCinema.com.

]]>Movies2016-07-21T15:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/07/21/awesome-90s-movies-head-outdoors-at-street-food-cinema-2016/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/07/19/stranger-things-season-2/
If you've watched the new Netflix limited series "Stranger Things" (and judging from the speculation online as to whether or not the amount of people watching would be enough to crash Netflix's servers, you probably have), then you know that, while the arc has definitely closed and most loose ends tied up, there are certainly places where the heavily '80s-indebted series could go. And, again, judging by the phenomenal numbers and general pop culture awareness for the Duffer Brothers series, we should be looking at a second season sooner rather than later.

So, if you enjoy the kind of aimless theorizing that probably has little (if any) baring on the actual events of "Stranger Things" Season 2, please read on. Just a quick SPOILER WARNING: We will be talking about this first season in depth so if you haven't watched it yet, please do.

Chapter 1: What Could Happen

A Lengthy Time Jump"Stranger Things" borrows, more than John Carpenter or Steven Spielberg, from the works of American author Stephen King. (King acknowledged this and was cool with it.) Everything from the font of the show and the title itself (bearing more than a little resemblance to his "Needful Things") to the idea about a parallel world just beyond the shadows to the camaraderie between childhood friends who band together to banish an ancient evil ... It all reeks of King. And, should it follow strictly in the King model, then Season 2 would pick up decades later, with the four friends now grown adults, who have to fight an ancient evil that has come back. This is the basis of bona fide classics like "It" and the recent "Shining" follow-up "Doctor Sleep" to lesser (but still entertaining) works like "Dreamcatcher." It's safe to say that "Stranger Things," if it follows the King trajectory, could return with the same characters played by completely different, grown-up actors.

It Picks Up Right Where It Leaves OffAgain: while it could follow the King model, it could also simply follow the course of a basic television series and pick up where the events of Season 1 left off. To be sure, there are a number of lingering questions: what did Hopper (David Harbour) say to the nefarious government agents and why does he still think Eleven (Millie Brown) is still alive? Why is Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) still having visions of the alternate reality? And why didn't the monster eat him after all that time? Is Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) really dead? And what of the other pathways to the alternate dimension? If the one in the lab is the only one that Eleven opened up, what was that crazy, Guillermo del Toro-inspired tree about? And what of Barb? We just hope the Duffer Brothers have a solid groundwork because if they're going with this path they need to do it fast. Kids age rapidly (remember when Walt, after being gone for a "few months" in the continuity of "Lost," returned looking old enough to teach at the Dharma Initiative Grad School?) Talk about scary.

More Time in the Upside DownAnother way to go about Season 2, which again follows the Stephen King model in some respects (including the books he wrote with Peter Straub and his defining "Dark Tower" novels), is to have the majority of the second season set in the alternate universe, described by the kids as The Upside Down. Since the first season was set primarily in the real world, with only flashes to the alternate dimension, they could flip the script in "Stranger Things" Season 2 and have the majority of it happen in the Upside Down, with the real-world stuff as the secondary concern. Of course, much of the charm of "Stranger Things" is its ability to make the ordinary uncanny; if everything is uncanny, then the ordinary just seems kind of blah.

A Different Story Altogether
There hasn't been anything to explicitly suggest that it would follow a normal television cycle, with one season having any connection whatsoever to the previous season. Instead, it could adopt the anthology concept, so favored by Ryan Murphy and his confederates, wherein each season would be wholly different from each other, with only slight, tenuous connections between them. "Stranger Things" could do the same thing; Season 2 could be more hardcore, scarier, less whimsical. But how far away can you get from the core principles of "Stranger Things," the Spielbergian wonder and kitschy aesthetic, before it stops becoming "Stranger Things"? It doesn't seem as pliable a framework as, say, "American Horror Story." But we could be wrong.

Chapter 2: What Should Happen

Hire Name DirectorsOne of the joys of "Stranger Things" is how it's able to evoke a certain style and era of filmmaking without it ever seeming like a complete photocopy. This is why it's so refreshing that Winona Ryder and Matthew Modine, both big stars in the decade the series is trying to emulate, come to the table with fully fleshed out characters who are wholly different from their previous roles. They aren't just mugging it up and repeating what they've done before, like some primetime sci-fi convention. They're fully invested in these new characters, and they're used sparingly. (The Duffer Brothers didn't take the Rob Zombie route and just stuff the cast with his cult movie favorites, thankfully.)

One way of adding some retro bang, though, would be to hire big-name '80s directors behind the camera. "Dead of Summer," the Freeform series with a similar vibe, has gone out of its way to hire directors like Mick Garris (who helmed a number of King adaptations, including much of his '90s TV output), Ron Underwood (who directed "Tremors") and legendary filmmakers like John Landis ("An American Werewolf in Paris") and Joe Dante ("Gremlins"). (Even CBS's "Braindead" has hired people like Roger Corman acolyte Alan Arkush to helm episodes.) It would be another way of nodding to the past without explicitly referencing it.

More Episodes
It's never a good thing when shot-gunning an entire series in a single weekend feels easy. And yet "Stranger Things," with its clipped, eight-episode runtime, felt too short. When it comes back, it should have a few more episodes, or perhaps just longer ones. Those Stephen King miniseries sure were good (hey, "Kingdom Hospital" had 13 one-hour installments).

More MonstersOne thing is for sure: we need to see more of The Upside Down. What are the mechanics? Is everybody else living there? And how much did the Duffer Brothers love "Under the Skin"? To that end, there should also be more monsters. It always felt a little weird that there was only one, flowery-faced demon hunting down the kids. Surely there must be other weirdo creatures on the other side with a similar thirst for blood? We would sure love to see those. And if this time the monster could have eyes, that'd be great. We know what you were going for (it seems like a mash-up of a del Toro beastie, John Carpenter's version of The Thing, and nefarious title characters from King's short story "The Langoliers"), but it'd be nice to see what the thing is looking at.

Chapter 3: Why It Doesn't Matter

Ultimately, though, what the second season of "Stranger Things" could (or should) be doesn't matter. The Duffer Brothers have let us into their wonderfully weird worldview and have done so brilliantly. This really is phenomenal entertainment, orchestrated by a pair of creative minds who understand the power (and danger) of nostalgia and have created something that will probably be seen as every bit as classic as what they were emulating.

So, "Stranger Things" Season 2, whenever it is and whatever form it takes, will be welcomed with open arms.

You got viral videos in my blockbuster! You got a blockbuster in my viral videos! And so begins the greatest cinematic marriage since the invention of "talkies": Happy Trailer Fun Time, a new video series from yours truly, premiering July 13th.

In a world ... where movie trailers take themselves way too seriously ... and viral videos are everywhere ... comes an original Moviefone series where the two collide in the most epic of ways. Each episode of Happy Trailer Fun Time will parody a notable blockbuster or blockbuster franchise using the best user generated content the Internet has to offer, culminating in such masterpieces as "Star Wrek: Beyond Help," "Goatbusters," "Suicide Squad Goals," and more! ]]>Movies2016-07-07T13:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/07/07/this-is-what-happens-when-viral-videos-become-blockbusters/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/06/30/street-food-cinema-2016-schedule/

If you're in the Los Angeles area, be sure to check out the crazy awesome outdoor screenings organized by Street Food Cinema for 2016. ]]>Movies
, Best Movies Ever
, Summer Movies2016-06-30T07:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/06/30/street-food-cinema-2016-schedule/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/06/23/17-problems-only-game-of-thrones-fans-can-understand/
Us "Game of Thrones" fans are gluttons for punishment. Week after week, we count down the hours until we get our next fix of the HBO hit, yearning for the gnarly deaths, mindblowing twists, and satisfying comeuppance that bless our Sunday nights. But there are a lot of problems that come along with loving the weary citizens of Westeros. Here are 17 of them.

]]>TV News
, Best TV Shows Ever2016-06-23T11:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/06/23/17-problems-only-game-of-thrones-fans-can-understand/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/06/15/moviefone-presents-street-food-cinema-2016-in-los-angeles/
Summer is here (well, technically it starts June 20th), which means lots of sun, beach-going, and outdoor movie-viewing. Yeah, you read that right. The traditional movie-going experience is great and all, but being cooped up in a theater means missing the beautiful weather outside -- including sunsets, cool breezes, and starry skies.

The annual outdoor movie festival gives Los Angeles-area residents and visitors -- hey, they're also in Phoenix and San Diego now! -- the chance to watch a diverse line-up of iconic movies and contemporary classics in the fresh summer air. While the centerpieces of the festival are the films, the event also features gourmet food trucks and music from local musicians, along with a few surprises here and there. Tickets to the event start at $13 for adults, which includes access to the food, music, and live entertainment.

]]>Movies
, Best Movies Ever2016-06-15T10:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/06/15/moviefone-presents-street-food-cinema-2016-in-los-angeles/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/06/14/the-legend-of-tarzan-preview/
Two years ago we were invited to the set of "The Legend of Tarzan" (then shooting under the far pulpier title of "Tarzan the Untamed") and it was really, really cool. The massive production, helmed by "Harry Potter" director David Yates and starring Alexander Skarsgård (as Tarzan), Margot Robbie (as Jane), Christoph Waltz (as real-life historical baddie Léon Rom, a man who supposedly kept the severed heads of black Africans in his flower bed), and Samuel L. Jackson (as a much more benevolent real-life character, George Washington Williams), stretched across several massive sound stages at Warner Bros.' Leavesden studio.

We walked through everything from a recreated Victorian street to a large cave where a dramatic showdown between Tarzan, native African warriors, and giant apes occurs (you can see this in one of the many striking trailers for the film). It was hugely impressive, and on the day we were there, got to see part of a fight sequence that seemingly took place on a runaway train.

Everything about the movie is huge–Yates shot some of it on 70mm film and it will be distributed in IMAX, and the attention to detail in every part of the production is staggering.

Below are 11 more things that we learned from the set of "The Legend of Tarzan" (opening on July 1st).

1. It's Not an Origin Story
Hollywood is origin-story crazy at the moment (under the logic that it's more exciting if you know where they came from) and while some of the early marketing materials from "The Legend of Tarzan" would suggest that it's a straight origin story, that simply isn't the case. The film actually begins with the titular wild man living the life of a refined gentlemen in polite England (John Clayton III or Lord Greystoke), who is then pulled back into the muscular savagery of the jungle. "That was one of the things that attracted me to the project -- it's a classic, epic tale that's been told many, many times. But it's almost always the origin story. And in this one, while there are some flashbacks to him as a child, the emotional journey isn't the man from the jungle trying to adapt to Victorian London. It's quite the opposite," Skarsgård explained on the set. "When we first meet him, he's very civilized in British law and he goes back to his emotional home and it's that kind of dichotomy between man and beast. He's got an amazing wife, a fantastic manor, a really good life on the surface–but he's not happy. He's not himself. I thought that was really interesting." We think it's interesting too.

2. Skarsgård Made Animal Noises to Get Himself Pumped Up
Since we were hanging around set, like a bunch of creepy, sweaty weirdos, before actually getting to talk to Skarsgård, we got to watch the actor both prepare to shoot the sequence and then got to see him actually, you know, act. While the acting was very good and fine and handsome, what was really interesting was the preparation: after consuming what we can only assume is an amount of protein that would make Chad from "The Bachelorette" jealous, Skarsgård could be seen whipping himself into a frenzy. He would do this by making loud, guttural sounds that really were animalistic. But, apparently, he does this on all of his movies and this wasn't specific to "Tarzan" (which makes this 100% more incredible). "When you shoot a scene like this, you're thrown right into the middle of a big fight sequence," Skarsgård explained handsomely. "So that's what I do to pump myself up and get ready for it so I don't start the scene with a yawn."

3. It Turns Out Skarsgård Is a Fan of the Classics
Considering "The Legend of Tarzan"is the latest in an endless array of films based on the iconic Edgar Rice Burroughs character that was created back in 1912, we had to ask Skarsgård who his favorite Tarzan was. While we were secretly hoping he'd say the animated Disney version and then start singing one of the Phil Collins songs, he instead chose a classic dramatization: "Johnny Weissmuller, of course."

4. This Tarzan Is Both 'Scary' and 'Sad'
While the emotional and visceral arc of the character seems to follow Tarzan as he goes from civilization back to the more primordial instincts, Skarsgård said that you can see the animal in the man from early on. "Fortunately, we had a lot of time prepping it and figuring that journey out. It's so rich, with this character, to layer it in a way that goes from the really buttoned up proper British gentleman, to at the end of the film, where he's a beast basically," Skarsgård explained. "And to have little moments that show that. Because you want to see that there's something underneath that is quite scary and sad." Underneath the abs lies a bleeding heart.

5. Skarsgård Felt No Pressure
Again: this is an iconic role, and one that, according to the production, a ton of people auditioned for. Still, it didn't get to Skarsgård, who seemed bowled over by the professionalism, imagination, and technique that overflowed from the movie. "I feel nothing but peace," Skarsgård said. "It is such a dream project."

6. The Perpetually Prepared Skarsgård Was Ready for the Role Long Before Shooting Began
Anyone who followed this project knows that it had a fairly tumultuous production history, including several directors signing on and dropping off (among them: Gothic Romance revivalist Guillermo del Toro and "The Mummy" filmmaker Stephen Sommers) and a pair of screenwriters who were tasked with coming up with scripts independently. (Those scripts were later merged into a single storyline.) Also, throughout the day, as we said, the filmmakers kept talking about how hard it was to find the right actor to play Tarzan. All of this led to Skarsgård, who was ultimately cast, being ready long before the rest of the movie was. "I didn't audition first. I met with David a couple of times two years ago. We were supposed to go last year but it's a big beast of a production. I was already training for it about a year and a half ago to shoot last summer. When a project gets pushed like that, as an actor, you never know what will happen. It was really devastating and you never know. It was a bit of a waiting game," Skarsgård said.

"Then I went on this expedition to the South Pole. Then the day I got back to this Russian station on the coast of Antarctica. They had really slow dial-up. After 45 minutes of sitting there, an email popped up from David who said we're doing it next summer." That's right, folks: he won the role of a major studio franchise film while adventuring at the South Pole. This guy!

7. When All Is Said and Done You Won't Know It Was Shot in England
We got to speak to David Barron, the producer who came in after the script had been finalized and the film had been cast, to make sure it was running smoothly and efficiently. (He was coming off a pair of Kenneth Branagh movies.) One of the ways to streamline the production was not actually shooting in Africa. "It's a lot easier to shoot here. There's no infrastructure in the rain forest. Once you get there, it's hard to move about. It's not a nice place to work. It's a fun place to go but not a great place to spend several months shooting," Barron said. But given the truly immersive sets designed by "Harry Potter" principle Stuart Craig and the digital effects wizardry that will come after the fact, it'll be pretty seamless and real (especially when combined with the plate shots of the jungle filmed by a second unit crew). "No one will ever know this isn't Africa. It's completely convincing," Barron assured. Given how elaborate the production was, we believe him.

8. The Film Takes Place Over Seven Days
Given the emotional and spiritual arc that Tarzan seems to go on in the film, you'd assume that it probably takes place over a fairly lengthy amount of time. But no. "It takes place over a week, really," Barron said.

9. Also: It's a 'Chase Movie'
More tantalizingly, Barron described the movie as a "chase movie," instigated by Waltz kidnapping Jane. (Not the best idea, especially since people in England know of Tarzan's reputation. In a meta-twist he's the subject of pulpy stories consumed, en masse, by a public hungry for adventure.) It's this chase mechanic that seems to be the engine for the film. "He hits the ground running and actually rediscovers the primal Tarzan in the course of this mad dash to rescue Jane," Barron explained.10. Jane Is Just as Much of an Outcast as Tarzan
While Robbie wasn't on set the day that we were visiting, there was obviously a lot of mystique around the character (particularly since it was so soon after she had made a splash in Martin Scorsese's masterpiece "Wolf of Wall Street"). According to Barron, in some ways, Jane is just as much an outcast as Tarzan. Tarzan rescues Jane from an ape attack when she is very young (her father was a scientist studying nearby) and when we meet back up with her in the film, she's living in London. "She's trying to fit in. Not only has she come from the jungle but she is an American out of place in a very stuffy English aristocratic home," Barron said. "She misses Africa and she wants to go back. She's a fish out of water like Tarzan in some respects, since she's an American in a very fussy environment." This is a great addition to the story and seems to set her apart from your typical damsel in distress. Considering "Hustle & Flow" filmmaker Craig Brewer worked on the script, you can rest assured this Jane is going to be very sassy indeed.

11. It's Going to Look Very Different Than 'Greystoke'
Here's a super cool connection to "The Legend of Tarzan": production designer Craig worked the same job on "Greystoke: The Legend of Tarzan, Lord of the Apes," a 1984 feature released (like "The Legend of Tarzan") by Warner Bros. and featuring French thespian Christopher Lambert in the title role. (Famously Andie McDowell, who played Jane, was dubbed by Glenn Close in the final film. Years later, Close would voice Tarzan's ape mother in Disney's animated version.) When we asked Craig what kind of research he did for this film, he shot back: "I knew it from the research I did 30-odd years ago." He went on: "'Greystoke' is, in a way, the prequel to this. That covers the years from his birth to Africa. With this movie, it's his return to Africa. So they're pretty full-on in narrative terms. I remember 'Greystoke' but nobody else does. But it's an interesting connection."

Considering us lonely film writers largely populated the set visit, we insisted that we did remember the film (Robert Towne did un-credited rewrites, the cinematography by John Alcott was lush and misty) and wanted to know what the differences between the two productions were. "The major difference is that back then it was pre-computer compositing and pre-computer generated images," Craig explained. "Back then it was men in monkey suits. That was very difficult and it compromised the set because they had to leap from one branch to the other. So what we built was a gymnasium, thinly veiled as a jungle."

You heard it here first: "The Legend of Tarzan" was completely gymnasium-free.

"The Legend of Tarzan" hits theaters swings into theaters July 1st.

]]>Interviews
, Movies2016-06-14T15:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/06/14/the-legend-of-tarzan-preview/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/05/20/rose-byrne-oiling-up-shirtless-zac-efron-was-disgusting/
Rose Byrne is a comedy star on the rise, whether you (or she) realizes it or not.

We recently sat down with Byrne to talk about why it made sense for her to do a sequel to 2014's comedy hit "Neighbors," why she and Seth make such a great team, how her pregnancy affected filming, and what oiling up a shirtless Zac Efron is really like (hint: it's not as sexy as it sounds).

Moviefone: At one point did you decide you'd be game for a follow-up -- immediately after the first one? After the script?

Rose Byrne: Pretty early. ... I wanted to know what the idea was. It evolved until I was ready to say yes. It was always a collaboration, too. They're very collaborative -- Nick [Stoller], Seth, and Evan [Goldberg] -- the whole team. So I definitely loved doing the first one. I loved working with Seth and Zac and Nick, who is a dear friend and gave me my break in comedy. So when I got the chance to work with him again, I was like, 'I would love to do a sequel. Obviously, it would be really fun.' Yeah, it was pretty fast, really. It's 2016, and the movie -- the other one -- only came out in 2014. So it is a pretty incredibly fast turn around if you think about it.

What makes you and Seth such a great on-screen team?

He very much entertains me, Seth. And perhaps maybe I entertain him. I'm not sure -- you'll have to ask him. But I think we have a sense of entertaining one another, so that's a big plus. That gift goes a long way. And he's very perceptive. His comedy always comes from such great observational moments and beats, and it always catches me unaware. Chemistry's so strange, isn't it? It's something that you can't predict. It doesn't matter. Even when people hate each other, that's good chemistry.

I've given up trying to figure out how you get it or how you don't because you do your best on the day and everything, but you just never know what's going to read and what isn't. So we were really lucky with it. Nick Stoller's a really incredible director, and he's very good at casting. He's such a big part of it, obviously, and he's always consistently -- always his movies have great actors in them.

Seth is famously improvisational, but where do you fall on the improv scale?

I'm OK. I've gotten to see and watch the best people in the world, like Seth and Kristen Wiig and Melissa McCarthy and Maya Rudolph, Russell Brand, Jonah Hill -- these incredible people I've watched do it. But my talent is a little ephemeral -- sometimes it's there and sometimes it's not. It's not effortless to me, whereas it is for those guys. I didn't come from an improv background.

Why do you think it's important to portray women behaving badly on screen?

It's interesting. I just did this film with Susan Sarandon called "The Meddler," and we were promoting it the last few weeks. She's one of my idols -- I love her. She somehow brought up "Thelma & Louise." We were talking about that in the interview, and she was saying that at the time, it was so controversial because it was women behaving badly, and they were all like, "This is going to be groundbreaking and this is going to change everything." And I was like, wow, that's exactly what they said when we did "Bridesmaids." It's the same thing. It's a cyclical thing.

I guess it's gotta come to a point where it's not a talking point, which would be interesting, that it's like, oh, women can behave any way they want because they're fully fledged human beings with lots of different interesting things. They can be flawed and they can be brilliant and they can be dull and they can be as mean as the guys. So that was really sort of interesting thing to hear her talk about and realize, oh, things have changed, but have they changed that much? Not really. So films like "Neighbors" are great because they enable the women to be in on the fun. In films like "The Hangover" or "Grown Ups" or whatever other types of comedies like that, the women aren't always allowed in on the fun. Something like this is very different.

You oiled up a shirtless Zac Efron in this movie. What was that like?

That was hilarious. It was with Ike as well, so we were just laughing, and Nick just kept encouraging us to take it very seriously and to really enjoy it -- and the more we sat there, the more we started laughing. We were rubbing pork fat on him. It's ridiculous. The actual stuff was disgusting. It was like a real piece of meat that had been cooked and seasoned in all this oregano and thyme, and then it was injected with baby oil to make it really, really greasy. So it was disgusting. It was absolutely disgusting. I couldn't get it off my hands. It was this whole thing. So we were also totally grossed out.

The sex scenes in both "Neighbors" movies are so funny -- how are they choreographed?

It's funny -- it's much harder to do an intimate one that is actually very real. That's a more challenging [thing], whereas a comedy sex scene, it's comedic. It's supposed to be ridiculous and funny. We've done the first one, so after being milked, really nothing is that bad. Everything else is like, you can't really throw anything at me now.

You were actually pregnant during filming, so did that affect the story?

They had actually toyed with the idea of making Kelly pregnant before I told them, so when I told them, they were fine. They were like, 'Great! That's it.'

Did you have to scale back on the physical comedy?

A little bit. I think there was a scene where they wanted me to do a cartwheel. I was like, 'Uh, I can't do a cartwheel.' So a little bit, but not too much. I really enjoyed working through my pregnancy. Everyone was very nice to me. So I plan to do it on every job. Wish me luck.

What do you get when the biggest blockbusters meet viral videos? Hollywood's best movies like you've never seen them before.

Moviefone invites you to experience the greatest movies the internet has ever created with "Happy Trailer Fun Time." Watch the teaser trailer above, then watch for more in 2016.

]]>Trailers and Clips
, Movies2016-05-03T18:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/05/03/moviefone-happy-trailer-fun-time-coming-2016/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/04/11/tmnt-out-of-the-shadows-megan-fox-stephen-amell-exclusive-photos/
In March, "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows" stars Megan Fox and Stephen Amell popped by Moviefone's exclusive photo booth during their visit to WonderCon 2016, where they were promoting the follow-up to the 2014 hit "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles," and we got some smokin' hot photos as a result. Fox went semi-casual (hey, WonderCon is a casual kinda event), sporting a dark blazer and knee-torn jeans, while Amell opted for the full-blown T-shirt/jeans/backwards cap weekend look. Of course, they both knocked it out of the park.

Be mesmerized by their photos, watch the trailer for TMNT2, and check out "Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows" when it hits theaters June 3rd. ]]>Movies2016-04-11T15:00:00-0400https://www.moviefone.com/2016/04/11/tmnt-out-of-the-shadows-megan-fox-stephen-amell-exclusive-photos/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/03/03/zootopia-infographic-disney/
Disney's "Zootopia"? How many brothers and sisters does Officer Judy Hopps (Ginnifer Goodwin) have? How many costume changes does Assistant Mayor Bellwether (Jenny Slate) make? The answers to all of your burning "Zootopia" questions (and then some) can be found in our handy infographic below. You can thank us later.

Disney's "Zootopia" is in theatres March 4th. ]]>Movies
, Trivia2016-03-03T09:01:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/03/03/zootopia-infographic-disney/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/29/chris-rock-best-moments-2016-oscars/
Chris Rock was announced for the gig of hosting the Academy Awards long before the nominations were revealed, and ensuing controversy over the lack of diversity in the nominees erupted. And Rock stoked the intrigue, refusing to do pre-Oscar publicity while he honed his material. He didn't want to give anything away and for good reason -- this wouldn't just be a fun hosting job; it felt vital, important, and now. And boy did he pull it off.

1. The Opening MonologueWhen one of Rock's first remarks in his monologue was, "If they nominated hosts, I wouldn't even get this job," you knew that it was going to be pretty no-holds-barred. And, well, it was. His monologue focused primarily on the issue of race, which set a tone for the rest of the evening, in which Rock would return to this well again and again. He described the Academy as "sorority racist," referred to "Creed" as "Black Rocky," and took a jab at Oscar-boycotting Will Smith, when he said "it's also not fair Will Smith was paid $20 million for 'Wild Wild West.'" It was wild, in-your-face and utterly hilarious.

3. Black History Month MinuteIn an amazing pre-taped bit Angela Bassett hosted the "Black History Month Minute." It seemed like she was talking about a famous African American actor (hello, Will Smith!) until it was revealed that she was instead describing the career of Jack Black. Get it? Black? So good.

4. Referring to Michael B. Jordan as a 'Should-Have-Been Nominee'Again, this was another minor moment but one we loved deeply: when introducing Michael B. Jordan, Rock referred to him as a "should-have-been nominee," referring to the sentiment of many, that Jordan should have been recognized for his exceptional, deeply felt work in "Creed."

5. The Suge Knight GagsAt one point, Rock made mention that there were some real life characters in the audience, including the woman that inspired David O. Russell's "Joy." But the best was when Rock pointed out Suge Knight, the violent, frequently imprisoned villain from "Straight Outta Compton." (The actor playing Suge Knight is strapped to a gurney like Hannibal Lecter.) Later in the ceremony, Knight is seen freed, seemingly because he gave his jailers Girl Scout Cookies. Which brings us to...

6. Girl Scout Cookies...In a bit of off-the-cuff wackiness that was like a funny version of what David Letterman tried to do back in the day, Rock introduced his daughter's Girl Scout troop, who then sold boxes of Girl Scout Cookies to seated celebrities. It was charming and sweet and served as a cute anecdote to the otherwise acerbic humor coming from Rock all night. Later in the show, he revealed that the troop had raised more than $65,000 and as he signed off, he passed out cookies to the winning team behind "Spotlight."

7. Pre-taped Compton BitOne of the laugh-out-loud funniest moments of the entire ceremony was a pre-taped segment when Rock visited a Compton movie theater to ask moviegoers about the Oscars. (Spoiler alert: they had never, ever heard of "Bridge of Spies.") This piece was symbolic of Rock's overall approach to the ceremony: he hit the issue of racism in the Academy Awards with surgical precision while also making light of the situation. It is both jovial and cutting. And the bit also illuminated the fact that the Oscars largely nominate movies that no one ever actually sees.

8. Boxes for ShortiesAnother small moment we loved: when pint-sized stars Abraham Attah (from "Beasts of No Nation") and Jacob Tremblay ("Room"), who were presenting Best Short Film, Rock ran out to put apple boxes on the stage so they could actually be heard by the microphone.

9. His Sign OffAt the end of the insanely long night, Rock invited everyone to the BET Awards this summer. He also said "Black Lives Matter" and handed Michael Keaton a Girl Scout cookie. It was truly an amazing end to an amazing night. Until next year...

There was a clear winner of this year's Academy Awards before a single statue was ever handed out. And that winner was Chris Rock. This year's Oscars ceremony was primed and ready to explode, thanks to the controversy surrounding the lack of diversity in the nominees. And Rock did not disappoint, coming out by saying, "If they nominated hosts, I wouldn't even get this job."

It just got better from there. And now you can watch the entire monologue, above. ]]>Movies
, Oscars
, Awards2016-02-28T22:55:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/28/oscars-2016-watch-chris-rock-hilarious-opening-monologue/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/28/ex-machina-lowest-budget-visual-effects-oscar-winner/
One of the biggest upsets of the Academy Awards this year was also one of the flat-out geekiest: in the Best Visual Effects category, the micro-budget sci-fi head game "Ex Machina" beat out some true titans, including "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" and "Mad Max: Fury Road."

In fact, it's the lowest-budgeted Best Visual Effects winner since Ridley Scott's "Alien."

And you might be wondering why "Ex Machina" took home the prize over such lauded, high-profile titles, especially if you haven't seen the cautionary thriller. While the film doesn't have any giant space battles or hyper-realistic bear attacks, it does have simplicity, cleverness and ingenuity. So much of the effects in "Ex Machina" are essentially next-level make-up effects, replacing bits of human actors with robotic servos and mechanisms. The results are eerie and affecting, and it was clearly enough to wow Oscar voters into making such an unconventional choice.

While the movie might not have brought in the big bucks that the other nominees brought in, "Ex Machina" made a fairly substantial amount of money ($25 million) for specialty distributor A24, proving that BB-8 isn't the only robotic sensation at the movies this year.

]]>Movies
, Oscars
, Awards2016-02-28T22:40:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/28/ex-machina-lowest-budget-visual-effects-oscar-winner/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/28/the-shout-out-scroll-is-the-best-thing-to-happen-to-the-oscars/
This year's Academy Awards had an exciting new flourish: a scroll that would run underneath the winners, allowing the acceptance speeches to be freer, less bound to strictly thanking your stylist, management, and publicist, and, most important, allows the speeches to be shorter. (This Oscar ceremony, so far, has been remarkably swift, with few of the winners actually having to be "played off," thanks largely to the scroll.)

At an Oscar lunch, producers Reginald Hudlin and David Hill unveiled the scroll. "Words are written on the winds, a screen crab of your scroll can be kept forever," they said. Hill later said: "That started us thinking, how can we ensure that the winners have an opportunity to say what's in their hearts and thank the most important people at the same time?"

And there is a precedent: Hilary Swank forgot to thank her then-husband Chad Lowe, and recently the Hollywood Reporter tallied up the relationship sustainability for winners who acknowledged their significant others versus those that did not. So, at the very least, this technological embroidery should save a few marriages.

Thanks to the scroll, the speeches tonight were looser and more liberated. Winners were able to be more personal (instead of having to thank Harvey Weinstein, you can say hello to your son watching at home) and eccentric. In previous years, the music would have overwhelmed the wacky costume designer from "Mad Max: Fury Road" long before she was able to wax philosophical about the impending apocalypse. It's also funny to see the grammar some of the winners employed; "The Revenant" cinematographer Emmanuel Lubeszki is able to create painterly images in a peerless widescreen format. He is also a huge fan of exclamation points.

After starring in one of the greatest, most beloved (and most Academy Award-winning) movies of all time, "Titanic," and then starring in a depressing Sam Mendes movie that nobody saw, "Revolutionary Road," real-life BFFs Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio have reunited on the red carpet at this year's Oscars and they are a sight for sore eyes.

This year, they're both nominated -- DiCaprio for his starring role as a vengeance-seeking wild man in "The Revenant" and she as the only person who stood up to the eccentric genius in "Steve Jobs" -- and they both looked absolutely amazing on the red carpet. DiCaprio, thought to be a shoo-in for the statue, kept it classic with his tuxedo, and Winslet looks as good as she always does, also in black. In other words: swoon.

We'll see whether or not these two life-long buddies take home the gold tonight but they've certainly won our vote for sexiest non-sexual plutonic soul mates. That's a category, right?

]]>Movies
, Awards2016-02-28T20:56:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/28/oscars-2016-kate-winslet-leonardo-dicaprio-reunited/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/26/oscars-stats-facts-academy-awards-by-the-numbers/
Oscars. We've compiled some fascinating stats about Hollywood's biggest night: How many people will be watching? How long do winners really have to give a speech (in theory)? Who set the record for the oldest Oscar nominee ever?

And here's one record this year's Academy Awards will never beat: Shortest Oscar Ceremony Ever, unless it ends after the first award is given out. ]]>Movies
, Oscars
, Awards2016-02-26T12:00:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/26/oscars-stats-facts-academy-awards-by-the-numbers/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/24/oscar-predictions-2016-best-picture/
The 2016 Oscars are almost here, which means it's time to firm up those predictions and get your ballot all ready to go.

This week, leading up to film's biggest night of the year, Moviefone's editors are revealing our predictions in the ceremony's biggest categories. We've already given you our picks for Best Actress and Best Actor. Now let's take a look at the biggest category of the night. Yup -- it's time for Best Picture. The nominees are:

Here, we've filled you in on who we think will win, as well as who we feel truly deserves to take home that coveted golden statue.​

Tim HayneWhat Will Win: "The Revenant." The power of an A-List, Oscar-nominated actor (Leonardo DiCaprio), an Oscar-winning director (Alejandro G. Iñárritu), and an impressive $165M box office haul are just too much for the Academy to ignore. "The Revenant" is easily the year's most buzzed about movie, and it's already nabbed the Golden Globe and BAFTA for Best Picture. Don't be surprised when it wins.

What Should Win: "Spotlight." Taught, well-crafted, and well-acted, "Spotlight" is a must-see example of artful, resonant filmmaking that relies on a compelling story -- not stunts -- to get you in the theater. It checks all the boxes: a top-notch cast delivering memorable performances; a powerful, important story; and an emotionally potent message -- all of which stays with you days (even weeks) after you watch it. If anything, a Best Picture win would get more people to see it, witch they should.

Phil PirrelloWhat Will Win: "The Revenant" One of the big hurtles standing in the film's way of taking home the biggest prize are the Academy's contingency of actors. They represent the biggest voting body and did not nominate the film for Screen Actors Guild's Best Ensemble — the SAG equivalent of Best Picture. That omission could result in an upset Sunday night, ditto "The Big Short's" PGA victory. (Most films tend not to win Best Picture if they haven't won the PGA.) But the last few weeks of buzz have all but declared "Revenant" the victor, so you might as well double-down on your office's Oscar pool.

What Should Win: "Mad Max: Fury Road." If we're just gonna give awards away to movies that were hard to make, then no movie was harder to literally get off the ground than "Fury Road." More than a decade in development and full of false starts, George Miller finally managed to rev his shiny and chrome masterpiece to life. It's more than just a two-hour car chase; it's an inventive, instantly iconic action drama that checks all the boxes as to why we go to the movies. Here's hoping enough voters mark its box for Best Picture.

Rachel HornerWhat Will Win: My heart says "Spotlight," but other parts of me says "The Revenant." As long as "The Big Short" doesn't win, I'm fine. I don't think that should have been nominated for anything except Worst Wigs in a Motion Picture.

What Should Win: I'm torn between "Spotlight" and "The Revenant" here. "Spotlight" is an example of skillful storytelling and powerhouse acting, but the subject matter practically stands on its own since it's such a powerful story to begin with. "The Revenant" is a harder narrative to pull off. Somehow it made two hours and thirty six minutes of a mauled and freezing man breathing heavily in agony not only bearable (get it? bear-able?), but visually stunning and consistently enthralling.
]]>Movies
, Oscars
, Awards
, TV News2016-02-24T12:00:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/24/oscar-predictions-2016-best-picture/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/24/oscar-speech-one-liners/
Oscar night, we're always excited to find out who wins. But what always ends up being the most memorable part of the night are the words freshly crowned Academy Award winners use in their speeches -- on purpose or not. Some winners get sappy, while others take their moment at the mic to deliver some humor.

These are some of the best Oscar "one-liners" in Academy Awards history. ]]>Movies
, Oscars2016-02-24T11:00:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/24/oscar-speech-one-liners/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/23/oscars-2016-reasons-to-watch/
Well, it's that time of year again: time for the pomp, pageantry, and prognostication of the Academy Awards.

But if it seems like the same old, same old, it's not – there are still plenty of reasons to watch this year's show. In fact, we've got ten right here. ]]>Movies
, Awards2016-02-23T10:00:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/23/oscars-2016-reasons-to-watch/https://www.moviefone.com/oscars-academy-awards/printable-oscars-ballot-2016-academy-award-nominees/
Looking for a printable 2016 Oscars ballot? We've got you covered. Click on the ballot below to download your very own PDF featuring all of the Academy Awards' 2016 nominees, complete with check boxes and score space -- perfect for your office Oscar pool. Or, download our 2016 Oscars ballot here.The 88th Annual Academy Awards airs Sunday, February 28th at 8:30 p.m. ET / 5:30 p.m. PT on ABC.

]]>Movies
, Oscars
, Awards2016-02-22T17:30:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/oscars-academy-awards/printable-oscars-ballot-2016-academy-award-nominees/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/18/star-wars-jokes/
Star Wars" fans are many things, but "humorless" is not one of them. Want proof? The internet is full of it. Just take a look at these 27 memes, GIF sets, and supremely creative examples photoshopping that "Star Wars" fanatics have produced and gifted unto the world. ]]>Movies
, Best Movies Ever2016-02-18T19:30:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/18/star-wars-jokes/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/17/10-oscar-winning-one-hit-wonders/
Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will hand out the most prestigious awards in Hollywood: The Oscars. Once all the pomp, pageantry, and congratulatory tweeting dies down, newly minted Oscar winners have to get on with their lives -- and careers. Sometimes they continue their critically-acclaimed streak with more high-brow, critically-acclaimed fare, and sometimes they disappear into a poof of "That's the movie you did after your Oscar win?"

His horror movie, "The Witch," has been earning raves since its premiere more than a year ago at the 2015 Sundance Film Festival. Now, on Friday (February 19th), the rest of the country will get to sample Eggers's brand of horror when "The Witch" is unleashed in theaters nationwide.

To celebrate the release -- and to get you amped for all things horror -- we asked Eggers to reveal his five all-time favorite horror movies. If this list is any indication, "The Witch" is going to hit you right in your horror-loving heart. ]]>Movies
, Horror
, Worth Watching2016-02-16T15:30:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/16/the-witch-director-robert-eggers-favorite-horror-movies/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/01/10-oscar-nominated-movies-that-were-hated-by-critics/
The 2016 Oscar nominations are chock full of movies that critics love and audiences have praised, but that's not always the case.

In the not-so-distant past, more than a few movies that had previously been eviscerated by critics ended up getting Oscar nominations. These are 10 of those movies. ]]>Movies
, Oscars2016-02-01T10:00:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/02/01/10-oscar-nominated-movies-that-were-hated-by-critics/https://www.moviefone.com/2016/01/08/golden-globes-facts/
For a night known as Hollywood's most notorious open-bar gala, the Golden Globes ceremony remains shrouded in mystery.

Most viewers probably don't even know who presents it (the Hollywood Foreign Press Association), how many voting members it has (only about 90), or what qualifies them to pass judgment on movies and television. Yet movie fans and awards mavens continue to take the Globes seriously as a precursor to the Academy Awards, since some of the Globe honorees will indeed go on to win Oscars. With Ricky Gervais set to reprise his hosting duties this weekend, here are 25 things you need to know about the Globes.1. Founded in October 1943 by eight foreign-market journalists, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (then called the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association) held its first awards ceremony the following spring, as a luncheon at 20th Century Fox. Instead of trophies, the winners took home scrolls.

2. The next year, the foreign press group held the ceremony at the Beverly Hills Hotel, but the young group had so little money to stage the event that it solicited actress Joan Bennett's gardener to supply the flowers for the centerpieces.

3. Bette Midler raised eyebrows with her speech in 1980, when she won a pair of trophies for her film debut in "The Rose" (Best Actress and Best New Female Star). Purporting to quote Joan Crawford, she mimed cupping her breasts and said, "I'll show you a pair of Golden Globes!"4. For the first 14 years, the Globes were presented by HFPA journalists, But in 1958, Rat Packers Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Sammy Davis Jr. stormed the stage, wielding whiskey glasses and cigarettes, and began riffing. They were a hit, and the next year, they were asked back as presenters. Now all the awards are presented by celebrities, just like at the Oscars.

5. The Globes first handed out a career achievement prize in 1952, to legendary director and Hollywood founding father Cecil B. DeMille. The award has been named for him ever since.

6. Since 1961, the Globe ceremony has been held at the International Ballroom of the Beverly Hills Hilton.

7. The Miss Golden Globe tradition, in which a starlet helps the presenters usher the winners on and off the stage, began in 1963. Originally, there were two Miss Golden Globes, one for TV and one for film. Today, there's just one, and she's traditionally the daughter of a star.

8. The Globes were first televised nationally in 1964, as a segment on "The Andy Williams Show." Shirley MacLaine won Best Actress for "Irma La Douce," but her speech was abruptly cut off by a commercial break.

9. NBC stopped airing the show in 1968, after the FCC complained that the HFPA "misled the public as to how the winners were determined." According to the FCC, the judges would choose winners based on attendance; if the chosen star didn't show, they'd pick someone who did. The HFPA revised its voting procedures and handed over the responsibility of tallying the votes to an outside accounting firm, as the Oscars do. NBC lifted its ban and resumed broadcasting the show in 1975.10. "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest," one of only three films in Oscar history to win the top five awards (Best Picture, Actor, Actress, Director, and Screenplay), was the first (and only) movie to pull off the same feat at the Golden Globes, in 1976.

11. The most nominated movie ever was 1975's "Nashville," with nine nods, but it won only one, for the original song "I'm Easy."

12. Before he was famous as a conspiracy theorist, Oliver Stone was a Globe winner for his screenplay for "Midnight Express." His 1979 speech turned into a tirade against U.S. drug policy (a theme relevant to his movie) that soon had the audience booing and presenter Chevy Chase urging him to just say thank you and exit. Finally, security guards approached, and Stone left the dais.

13. Group president Marina Cisternas designed the trophy in 1946, envisioning a golden globe encircled by a strip of film. The strip is delicate and flimsy, and more than one honoree (including Laurence Olivier) has accidentally broken it even before leaving the podium.

14. The Globes took the biggest hit to their credibility in 1982, when Pia Zadora won the Best New Female Star prize for her campy turn in the exploitation melodrama "Butterfly," a movie that hadn't even opened theatrically at the time of the nominations. (Among the actresses she beat: Elizabeth McGovern in "Ragtime" and Kathleen Turner in "Body Heat.") The award was widely assumed to be payback to Zadora's husband, casino mogul Meshulam Riklis, who had treated some HFPA members to a lavish junket at his Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas (where Zadora had a nightclub act) and to an extravagant luncheon at his house. A couple years later, the group stopped giving out the New Star awards altogether.15. Everyone remembers that Christine Lahti (above, left) was in the bathroom when she was announced as a winner for TV's "Chicago Hope" in 1998. Not many remember, however, that the same humiliating moment befell Renee Zellweger three years later.

16. Ties are extremely rare at the Oscars, less so at the Globes. In 1949, "Treasure of the Sierra Madre" and "Johnny Belinda" tied for Best Picture.

17. The only three-way tie in Globe history occurred in 1989, when the Best Actress award was shared among Jodie Foster ("The Accused"), Shirley MacLaine ("Madame Sousatzka") and Sigourney Weaver ("Gorillas in the Mist").

18. Jamie Foxx holds a record for the most nominations in a single year. He came into the 2005 ceremony with three nods, for his role in TV movie 'Redemption,' his supporting role in the big-screen thriller 'Collateral,' and his lead role as Ray Charles in 'Ray.' The 'Ray' performance won him the Globe (and the Oscar).

19. Calista Flockhart and Harrison Ford met when she accidentally spilled wine on him at the 2002 ceremony.20. The Globe voters once nominated a fictional character for a screenwriting award. The nomination came in 2003 for the "Adaptation" screenplay, credited to real-life screenwriter Charlie Kaufman and his imaginary brother, Donald -- both of whom were played in the film by Nicolas Cage (above). The Oscars later went on to nominate Donald Kaufman as well.

21. In 2008, the Globes were pre-empted by the Writers Guild strike. NBC simply ran a two-hour episode of "Dateline" instead, while the winners were announced via press conference.

22. The red carpet hasn't been immune to controversy. In 2005, Kathy Griffin joked that 10-year-old Dakota Fanning was entering rehab, which led to a forced on-air apology from the E! channel, a donation from the channel to Fanning's favorite charity, and Griffin's firing from future E! awards show coverage. The following year, E! red carpet interviewer Isaac Mizrahi generated complaints for grabbing Scarlett Johansson's breasts during their chat. Maybe the designer was measuring her for a gown.

23. The most notorious backstage interview came in 2007, among the "Grey's Anatomy" cast, involving Isaiah Washington making an offensive comment regarding co-star T.R. Knight. Washington soon left the drama series under a cloud of controversy.

24. Worst fashion faux pas? Probably Lara Flynn Boyle's notorious ballerina tutu in 2003, along with her David Cardona leotard and lace-up slippers. Runner-up: Whoopi Goldberg's yellow track suit, worn at her first Globe appearance in 1986.25. Allegations of payola surfaced again in 2011, when Columbia's thriller 'The Tourist' was nominated for Best Comedy/Musical, as was the studio's "Burlesque." (Also nominated, for their lead roles, were "Tourist" stars Johnny Depp and Angelina Jolie.) Both movies had underwhelmed critics, and it was a real stretch to call the mildly tongue-in-cheek "Tourist" a comedy, but it came out that the studio had flown HFPA members to Vegas on a junket that included a private concert by "Burlesque" star Cher. (It was almost the same situation as the "Butterfly" scandal three decades before.) There was no proof of a quid pro quo, and in the case of "The Tourist," there might not even have been one. Rather, its nominations were a way of ensuring that Depp and Jolie would show up on the red carpet. ]]>Movies2016-01-08T10:00:00-0500https://www.moviefone.com/2016/01/08/golden-globes-facts/